Post-Surgical Breast Molding Device

ABSTRACT

A post-operative bra for creating uniform breast symmetry after surgery. There are left and right side cups under the respective breasts, a left and right side longitudinal straps that wrap around the user&#39;s torso, a fastener connecting the ends of the left and right side longitudinal straps when the bra is worn by the user, air bladders mounted in the left and rights side longitudinal straps, and a pump connected to each air bladder for inflating the air bladder. The device provides pressure to the appropriate areas of the user to assist in supporting and stabilizing the breast in order to retain its proper shape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/331,693 filed May 4, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a post-surgical medical garment device to help improve the shape of a breast after breast surgery.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After cosmetic breast surgery and surgical breast reconstruction, the newly constructed or enhanced breast requires that the breast be supported and stabilized in order to retain its proper shape. It is commonly known that breast implants tend to move after breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. The problem that this invention solves is how to correct or create better breast symmetry after surgery. The inventive device closes or corrects pockets from prior breast augmentation that have poor outcomes or implant displacement. This device also corrects the over dissected or malpositioned breast pockets that can occur during a primary operation that is noticed during the recovery period, therefore helps create the ideal shape or can be used to help during revision surgery for breast augmentation/reconstruction where there has already been a malpositioned implant/pocket.

Previously, surgeons have tried to solve this problem by surgical capsule suturing or the placement of internal slings with allografts or autografts. Other solutions have been to surgically implant synthetic materials. However, all of these procedures are difficult procedures, costly and present the normal problems associated with surgical procedures. Still other devices use a garment or bra to support and shape the breasts. None of these have provided a simple yet effective means of comfortably supporting the areas of the breast to properly correct the pockets.

Rather than use expensive grafts or difficult surgical techniques or procedures, the inventive device is simple, externally used, inexpensive and has the ability to close off the deforming pocket and help create more symmetrical breasts. The device uses a bra that has an underwire under both breasts. There are adjustment straps to snugly fit the bra around the user. An air pump supplies the proper pressure to the sides of the bra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the inventive post-surgical bra surgical as worn by the user.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the inventive device as worn by the user.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the inventive device in the fully open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the air bladder taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the bladder of FIG. 4 in the inflated position.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the underwire taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an alternate embodiment in which the front of the inventive device is separated to allow for cleavage adjustment.

FIG. 8 is a second alternate embodiment in which the front of the inventive device is separated by a different fastener to allow for cleavage adjustment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the attached drawings, a breast molding device 10 is illustrated and works as follows. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, there is a u-shaped underwire 12 sewn into the device 10 under both breasts. The u-shaped underwire 12 helps set the inframammary fold. There is a left side longitudinal strap 14 and a right side longitudinal strap 16 that are designed to wrap around the user's torso 18 as seen in FIG. 2. There is a left side shoulder straps 20 and a right side shoulder strap 22 going around the user's shoulders. The left side shoulder strap 20 has one end secured to the left longitudinal strap by means of a ring 23 and the other end has a connector 24 that is received in a complementary connector 26 on the top portion of the left longitudinal strap. This is a conventional type of attachment in women's bras. There are also adjustment clips 28 to adjust the length of the shoulder strap, as is conventionally known. There is a similarly situated right side shoulder strap 22 that has the same connectors and adjustment means as the left shoulder strap 20. At the ends of the left side longitudinal strap and right side longitudinal strap are fasteners 30 that connect the two ends together when the device is wrapped around the user's torso. The fasteners 30 can be hooks, clips, Velcro fasteners, or other fasteners known in the art. They allow the length of the left and right side longitudinal straps 14, 16 to be adjusted so that they comfortably yet snugly wrap around the user when worn.

There is padding placed on the inside surface of the breast molding device to allow for compression and obliteration of the space between the breast molding device and the user's body. The padding can be cloth, foam or other suitable materials that are soft and washable. There is a left side air bladder or air reservoir 34 and a right side air bladder or reservoir 36 such that one air bladder is provided on each side of the device. The air bladder 34, 36 can be sewn between front and rear sides 40, 42 of the device 10 as seen in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the air bladder 34, 36 can be sewn against the rear side 40 on the inside of the device 10. An internal air pump 44 that is a small finger operated pump that is connected to the air bladder 34, 36 provides air to the bladder 34, 36 to inflate it and provide pressure to the side of the user's torso under the breast. A relief valve connected to the pump and air bladder provides a means for the user to selectively release the air pressure in the air bladder 34, 36. Both the left side air bladder 34 and right side air bladder 36 operate in the same manner. Alternatively, an external air pump can be used in lieu of the internal finger pump, but it requires that a valve be inserted in the air bladder with an external connector and valve to which the external pump can be connected. The air bladders or reservoirs 34, 36 allow for adjustable compression under the breast and improves the shape and ability to close off the deforming pocket.

In an alternate embodiment, the device 10 is essentially cut in half between the left and right side longitudinal straps. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the alternate embodiments in which laces 46, strings, adjustable clips or straps with Velcro fasteners 48 are mounted between the left and right side longitudinal straps, dividing the cups so that the position and size of the cleavage is adjustable. In all other aspects the device 10 operates the same as the first embodiment.

The post-surgical medical device is preferably worn by the user for six to twelve weeks after the procedure. This allows sufficient time for the device to correct an over dissected or malpositioned breast pocket.

Thus, there has been provided a post-surgical medical garment device to help improve the shape of a breast after breast surgery that fully satisfies the objects set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A postoperative bra for creating uniform breast symmetry after surgery comprising: a right side cup adapted to be worn under the right side breast, a left side cup adapted to be worn under the left side breast, a c-shaped underwrite mounted to the underside of each of the right side and left side cups, a left longitudinal strap attached to the left side cup and extending around the torso of the user to the backside of the user, a right longitudinal strap attached to the right side cup and extending around the torso of the user to the backside of the user, a fastener to connect the ends of the left longitudinal strap and the right longitudinal strap to each other when the bra is worn by the user, a right side air reservoir disposed adjacent to the right side of the user's torso and under the right side cup, a left side air reservoir disposed adjacent to the left side of the user's torso and under the left side cup, a left pump operatively connected to the left side air reservoir and a right pump operatively connected to the right side air reservoir for inflating the respective air reservoirs, valve means for selectively relieving the air from the air reservoirs.
 2. The post-operative bra of claim 1 wherein the right side air reservoir is mounted in lining within the bra and positioned under the user's right arm and extends around to the front of the user's torso underneath the right breast.
 3. The post-operative bra of claim 1 wherein the left side air reservoir is mounted in lining within the bra and positioned under the user's left arm and extends around to the front of the user's torso underneath the left breast.
 4. A post-operative bra for creating uniform breast symmetry after surgery comprising: a right side cup adapted to be worn under the right side breast, a left side cup adapted to be worn under the left side breast, a c-shaped underwire mounted to the underside of each of the right side and left side cups, the right side cup and left side cup having an interior circumferential wall and an exterior circumferential wall, an adjustable connector mounted to the interior circumferential walls for connecting the right side cup and the left side cup together, the adjustable connector allowing the space between the left side cup and right side cup to be adjusted to provide for adjustment of the cleavage between the breasts, a left longitudinal strap attached to the left side cup and extending, around the torso of the user to the backside of the user, a right longitudinal strap attached to the right side cup and extending around the torso of the user to the backside of the user, a fastener to connect the ends of the left longitudinal strap and the right longitudinal strap to each other when the bra is worn by the user, a right side air reservoir disposed adjacent to the right side of the user's torso and under the right side exterior circumferential wall, a left side air reservoir disposed adjacent to the left side of the user's torso and under the left side exterior circumferential wall, a pump operatively connected to each air reservoir for inflating the air reservoir, valve means for selectively relieving the air from the air reservoirs.
 5. The post operative bra of claim 4 and further comprising an air pump attached to the left longitudinal strap and a second air pump attached to the right longitudinal strap for providing air to the air reservoirs.
 6. The post-operative bra of claim 4 and further comprising a pocket underneath the left side exterior wall and a second pocket under the right side exterior wall for receiving and holding the air reservoirs.
 7. The post-operative bra of claim 4 wherein the right side air reservoir is mounted in lining within the bra and positioned under the user's right arm and extends around to the front of the user's torso underneath the right breast.
 8. The post-operative bra of claim 4 wherein the left side air reservoir is mounted in lining within the bra and positioned under the user's left arm and extends around to the front of the user's torso underneath the left breast.
 9. A method for creating uniform breast symmetry after surgery comprising the steps of: providing a bra with a right side cup that is worn under the right side breast and a left side cup that is worn under the left side breast, providing a c-shaped underwire mounted to the underside of each of the right side and left side cups, providing a left longitudinal strap attached to the left side cup and extending around the torso of the user to the backside of the use and a right longitudinal strap attached to the right side cup and extending around the torso of the user to the backside of the user, fastening the ends of the left longitudinal strap and the right longitudinal strap to each other to secure the bra when it is worn by the user, providing a right side air reservoir in the bra adjacent to the right side of the user's torso and under the right side cup, providing a left side air reservoir in the bra adjacent to the left side of the user's torso and under the left side cup, providing a left pump connected to the left side air reservoir and a right pump connected to the right side air reservoir for inflating the respective air reservoirs, providing pressure to the left or right side of the user's torso and under the breast by selectively inflating the left side and right side air reservoirs by using the left and right side pumps, and providing valve means for selectively relieving the air from the air reservoirs. 